title: Management of acute spinal cord injury in the neurocritical care unit.
abstract: Acute spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with widespread disturbances not only affecting neurologic function but also leading to hemodynamic instability and respiratory failure. Traumatic SCI rarely occurs in isolation, and frequently is accompanied by trauma to other organ systems. Management of individuals with SCI is complex, requiring aggressive monitoring and prompt treatment when complications arise. Typically this level of care is provided in the neurocritical care unit. This article reviews the pathophysiology of the neurologic, cardiovascular, and pulmonary derangements following traumatic SCI and their management in the critical care setting.
authors.affiliation: Section of Neurosurgery, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, One Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA. Linton.T.Evans@Hitchcock.org
authors.forename: Linton T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Stuart Scott
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lollis
authors.forename: Perry A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Ball
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy